Emerging/Emergent Curriculum

[Aquamarine]

My son's Preschool has a new Director.

I think she is absolutely fantastic and has just introduced an Emergent Curriculum into the Centre.

All the teachers are absolutley amazed at how well the children are already going seeing it has only been in place for about 3 months now.

I have already seen the positive changes in my son.

The way that the children are observed on a personal level is fantastic and instead of focussing on a checklist of 'can and can't do's' etc can throw a ball, can place blocks on shelf (already know that) it focuses on the child's individual interests.

I love the way it focuses more on the social-emotional development of the child, in that to me that is so important when associated with school readiness. Much more important than counting to 10 or writing their name.

Learning how to become involved in a group situation with other children is so important.

I am so happy with the way this has been introduced into my son's kindy.

This is the way my mum has taught for many years and as far as I know this is the way all new taechers are being trained.

Do you have any experiences with Emergent Curriculum or are you a teacher and have any opninon on this?

Would love to hear more!

[Aquamarine]

Bump!

[mamabare]

I'm an early childhood teacher and this is how we were trained to teach - certainly all the current research and education theory indicates that this method follows how children best learn and develop.

Its easy to do in early childhood settings, but harder in primary schools as the class sizes increase and there is less individual attention. Parental and societal pressure to all achieve and reach the same levels at the same time also take over.

Its great you have found somewhere you are so happy with :)

I was lucky to find a school (small community parent managed school) that follows this approach into primary school and DS is absolutely thriving.

[mum2L]

It is great!!! :thumbsup:

Our centre has been doing it for years officially but also many years before this unofficially! There is so much you can do and I really believe that children learn much better through things that they are interested in. I love the documentation aspect of the emergent curriculum too. Doing projects, taking photos etc and then displaying these for the parents to see what the children have been up to is always cherish by families.

As emergent curriculum is all about extending the children's interests I think they become more involved in their learning and learn so much more. One interest always leads to another and so it just continues.

What is great is that one interest maybe something like family, which could easily lead to an interest in various animals or something like that. I hope you understand what I am saying, as I can't think of an exact experience at the moment. Basically where an interest starts it could end up somewhere totally different at the end.

Can you tell I love it??? :laughing:

Glad to hear that this has been introduced into your DS's kindy and that you have already seen positive changes in him.

Ok I think I have :ecomcity: and rambled on enough now!!

[Aquamarine]

That's so great to hear.

There are a few parents that have been giving the new director a very hard time over it. It was very disapointing to me as I could just see how it was progressing and they just didn't want to know about it.

All they could see was the left over mess on the floor. I mean the children clean up but not to the degree of absolute perfection. It is a learning experience too.

We had a meeting the other night and it was just fabulous to see how many people supported it, including all of the current teachers. There was just that small minority that wanted clear structure, the old fashioned way.

I really hope they end up seeing just how wonderful it really is.

I just can't stress how important it is to have that social emotion experience before starting school.

I have grown up with a mother who has taught this way for years so I am just so excited that my children will now get this opportunity too.:yelclap:

[mum2L]

That is great to hear Sal! :thumbsup:

Hopefully the parents that are giving the new director a hard time will come around. Although having said that after many years in childcare sometimes you just can't do anything to please some parents iykwim.

I love a bit of a mess because that just shows the children had a great time and actually played there! :D